San Marino, the world's third-smallest state, also claims to be the world's
oldest republic. According to tradition, San Marino was founded in AD 301 when a
Christian stonemason named Marinus the Dalmatian fled to the island of Arbe to
escape the anti-Christian Roman Emperor Diocletian. Marinus hid on the peak of
Mount Titano and founded a small community of people following their Christian
beliefs. It is certain that the area had been inhabited since prehistoric times,
although evidence of existence on Mount Titano dates back only to the middle
ages. In memory of the stonecutter, the land was renamed "Land of San Marino,"
and was finally changed to its present-day name, "Republic of San Marino."
The original government structure was composed of a self-governed assembly
known as the Arengo, which consisted of the heads of each family. In 1243, the
positions of Captains Regent (Capitani Reggenti) were established to be the
joint heads of state. The state's earliest statutes date back to 1263.
The land area of San Marino consisted only of Mount Titano until 1463, at
which time the republic entered into an alliance against Sigismondo Pandolfo
Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, who was later defeated. As a result, Pope Pius II
Piccolomini gave San Marino the towns of Fiorentino, Montegiardino, and
Serravalle. Later that year, the town of Faetano joined the republic on its own
accord. Since then, the size of San Marino has remained unchanged.
San Marino has been occupied by foreign militaries twice in its history, both
for only short periods of time. In 1503, Cesare Borgia, known as Valentino,
occupied the republic until his death several months later. In 1739, Cardinal
Alberoni used military force to occupy the country, but civil disobedience was
used to protest this, and clandestine notes sent to the Pope to obtain justice
were answered by the Pope's recognition of San Marino's rights and restored them
to independence.
The state was recognized by Napoleon in 1797 and by the Congress of Vienna in
1815. San Marino maintains diplomatic and consular relations with a number of
European and American countries, mints its own coins, issues its own postage
stamps and grants honors of merit. Legislative power is exercised by the Grand
Council of 60 members and the executive by a State Congress divided into
ministries, renewed with each legislature. The Capitani Reggenti have a
representative mandate and are elected twice yearly, in April and October.
San Marino is the only surviving Italian city-state. Like Andorra,
Liechtenstein and Monaco, it appears an anachronism, a reminder of the times
when Europe – particularly Germany, Italy and the Pyrenees – was made up of tiny
political units, often extending no further than a cannon could fire from a
city’s walls. Of all the small European countries, San Marino’s survival is the
most surprising. Apart from the Vatican City (whose development followed a
different course), it is the only one which is completely surrounded by one
other country. Various treaties of friendship have been signed with Italy since
the latter’s unification, but San Marino proudly asserts its independence where
possible.
Having joined the Council of Europe as a full member in 1988, San Marino held
the chair of the organization during the first half of 1990.
San Marino became a member of the United Nations in
1992
